Columbia
61
46
CSU Fullerton
| Score by Quarter |
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final |
| Columbia |
15 |
14 |
14 |
18 |
61 |
CSU Fullerton
|
11 |
6 |
16 |
13 |
46 |
| Stat Comparison |
| Category |
Columbia |
CSU Fullerton
|
| FGM-A |
22-64 |
16-59 |
| FG% |
34.4% |
27.1% |
| 3FGM-A |
3-18 |
3-13 |
| 3FG% |
16.7% |
23.1% |
| FTM-A |
14-17 |
11-17 |
| FT% |
82.4% |
64.7% |
| Rebounds |
48 |
41 |
| Assists |
16 |
10 |
| Turnovers |
11 |
11 |
| Blocks |
4 |
4 |
| Steals |
3 |
1 |
FULLERTON, Calif. — The Columbia women's basketball team began its West Coast trip with a seventh consecutive victory, defeating Cal State Fullerton, 61-46, Thursday night at Titan Gym.
The win improved Columbia to 9-2, continuing its best start in program history. It also tied the program's Division I record for consecutive wins, last accomplished in 1986-87 – the program's first season at the Division I level.
“We're learning how to win and building momentum,” said first-year head coach Megan Griffith '07CC. “It's special because the team is really enjoying it for how we're winning and not just for what the end result is. The winning means more to us and it's something we're hoping to build on.”
The Lions took a 21-point lead when they opened the second half on a 9-0 run. Tremendous passing sparked the outburst, led by the efforts of Tori Oliver. The senior found sophomore Josie Little with inside passes on back-to-back possessions. The next time down the floor, Oliver grabbed an offensive rebound and kicked the ball out to junior Camille Zimmerman, who drained a 3-ball to put Columba up 38-17 just 2:55 into the second half.
Cal State Fullerton (2-10) made an attempt to get back in the game, slicing the deficit to 10 by the end of the third quarter and then to as little as eight points, 45-37, with 7:11 to go in the fourth. The Lions were able to fend off any real threat to their lead and cemented the win with an 8-0 run through the final minutes.
Zimmerman strung together her fifth consecutive 20-point outing, scoring a game-high 20 on 7-of-14 shooting. The four-time Ivy League Player of the Week scored nine of her 20 points in the fourth quarter, also finishing the night with seven rebounds, two steals and an assist. Senior Devon Roeper and sophomore Paulina Koerner scored nine points apiece.
Oliver led the effort on the glass with a season-high 13 boards. It helped Columbia outrebound the Titans, 48-41, recovering from a first quarter in which Fullerton edged the Lions 14-9. The senior from Manassas, Virginia, added seven points and marked another season-high with five assists.
“We really pride ourselves on rebounding,” Oliver said. “It's such a big part of our game. To me, rebounding is just pure effort. It's a testament to how hard we're working.”
Iman Lathan and Daeja Smith each scored a team-high 13 points for the Titans. Lathan completed a double-double with 12 rebounds. Jade Vega rounded out Fullerton's double-figure scorers with an even 10.
Columbia allowed a season-low 46 points by holding the home team to 27.1-percent shooting (16-59). The Lions struggled from the field as well at just 34.4 percent (22-64), but still knocked down six additional shot attempts to go with a 14-for-17 (82.4 percent) mark at the foul line. Columbia also turned the ball over a season-low 11 times after entering the game averaging more than 20 per contest.
After a tightly contested first quarter, Columbia took control with a defensive stand in the second quarter, only allowing Cal State Fullerton to score six points. Leading 17-13, the Lions used a 12-2 run that spanned over seven minutes to take their largest lead of the contest. Oliver scored on a spin move in transition to give the Lions their first double-digit lead and capped the run in the final seconds of the half with a jumper that put her team ahead 29-15.
Columbia's nine consecutive points to begin the second half gave it enough cushion to withstand Fullerton's run.
The Lions complete their West Coast trip on Saturday, closing out the calendar year at Long Beach State (8-6). Tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local) on New Year's Eve at Walter Pyramid.
Postgame Notes
- Columbia tied the program's Div. I record of seven consecutive wins (1986-87).
- The Lions continued their best start in program history, reaching 9-2 for the first time.
- Columbia posted season-lows in turnovers (11), points allowed (46), field goals allowed (16) and steals allowed (1).
- Columbia recorded a season-high 16 assists.
- Tori Oliver pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds, which was one off of her career high.
- Camille Zimmerman reached 20 points for the fifth consecutive game.
- Columbia improved to 3-2 against Cal State Fullerton, snapping the Titans' two-game series winning streak.
